Board Approves Budget with New Indoor, Sand Initiatives

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 26, 2010) – The USA Volleyball (USAV) Board of Directors met Jan. 25 in Los Angeles to re-affirm its quadrennial goals, finalize and approve its 2010 annual budget and finalize its plan to expand support for beach/sand programming and staffing.

Beach volleyball was discussed in length during the meeting with the goal of creating short- and long-term growth for the discipline while building synergy among the various beach volleyball organizations. The Board voted to expand the USAV Beach Department executive team in the 2010 budget to build upon new opportunities to better serve the competitive and logistical needs for athletes playing for USA Volleyball in FIVB competitions. A new senior-level managing director of Beach Programs will be hired in the coming weeks and will be supported by a new Beach Task Force comprised of Board members and other members of the beach community to offer strategic and budget guidance for beach programming.

“I thank the Board and our national staff for providing effective strategic guidance and sound operational success during a very challenging year for sports properties and governing bodies,” USA Volleyball Board of Directors Chairman David Schreff said. “USAV is now poised to leverage so many new opportunities across juniors, regional, indoor, sand/beach and international competition programs.”

USAV re-affirmed its plan to extend broader service for its beach athletes, events, beach High Performance pipeline, clinics and coaching programs. The expanded beach department staff will add to its mandate the development of programs to support the recent NCAA decision affirming Division I and II sand volleyball as a women’s emerging sport. NCAA Division II sand volleyball legislation goes into effect for the 2010-2011 season, while NCAA Division I starts a year later in the 2011-2012 academic year.

“I'm pleased that USAV is able to take another step forward in our support of the beach discipline with the board approved growth within our beach department,” USA Volleyball Chief Executive Officer Doug Beal said. “Adding a senior-level staff position and elevating other current beach staff will allow us to better take advantage of the recently confirmed NCAA sand volleyball opportunities and enhance the support we provide to our high level international athletes.”

The Board also directed its Olympic Trials Commission to prepare the preliminary request for proposal and send it to city sports commissions who might seek to bid on 2012 Olympic Beach Trials. A detailed recommendation report will be prepared by the Commission with athlete input in time for the May 2010 Board meeting scheduled in Phoenix.

In other business, the Board welcomed Christena Clauss as a new Junior Indoor Board member and codified with its Nominating and Governance Committee a more streamlined and organized method of seeking and vetting qualified candidates with its core constituency groups. This process will begin immediately for terms expiring in June 2010.

Tags: Beach, David Schreff, Doug Beal, Kerry Klostermann, USA Volleyball, USA Volleyball Board